US2170210A - Observation unit for bees or the like - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 22, 1939. D E, @BERNE -2,170,210

OBSERVATION UNIT FOR BEES OR THE LIKE Filed Aug. l5, 1938 3/ v ,157592, ENTOR. Y BY iam/MLM` .in 25 WMMLMMW' ym ab k"K5 ATTORNEY E E I S i! i? ft Patented Aug. 22, 1939 t 2 17() 210,;

MAR a 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,170,210 OBSERVATION UNIT FOR BEES OR THE LIKE Donald E. OBeirne, Waukesha., Wis. Application August 15, 1938, Serial No. 224,889 14 Claims. (Cl. 6 1) This invention relates generally to improvefolded into compact form for shipment and ments in the art of housing bees or the like, and handling. relates more specifically to improvements in the I Still another specific object of this invention is construction and operation of bee observation to provide a simplified, portable and conveniently 5 units and to the method of admitting bees to such adjustable observation unit adapted to be eifec- 5 units. tively locked in collapsed as well as in normal Generally stated, an object of the present inopen position, and'which is extremely durable in vention is to provide an improved observation construction.

unit for bees or the like, which may be readily Another specific object of the invention is to constructedand operated, and which is moreover provide an improved observation unit capable of highly eicient and practical in operation. being mounted on a window sill or the lil e,'with It has long been common practice for schools, out destroying the utility of the window. hospitals, and other institutions, and for personsl An additional specific object of the invention is generally interested in the study and raising of to provide a new and useful bee observation unit bees, to observe their habits through glass enassociable with the Window of a building, and 15 closures or cages. Since the activity of the bee is having improved means for permitting ingress greatly increased in light and Well ventilated and egress ofthe bees to and from the unit from' places, it is highly desirable to position the obthe ambient atmosphere, the area of the passageservation units close to Windows or similar openway being controllable from within the building.

ings. It is also desirable to position such units Still another spe'cic object of the invention is 20" near a window in order to enable passage of the t-o provide an observation unit for bees wherein bees to and from their natural habitat by means the bees are eectively protected from undesirof a suitable passageway communicating with the able climatic conditions, such as cold weather and ambient atmosphere, and without necessitating extraordinary light.

movement or repositioning of the observation A further specific object of my present inven- 25 unit when it is desired to free the bees. It is tion is to provide an observation unit of such size moreover desirable to provide a substantial supthat the complete cycle of brood rearing may take port for such an observation cage, in order to place While portraying a constant perspectiveof prevent the cage from fallin-g and delivering the any individual bee from the time the bee enters 3o bees into the building, and also in order to prevent the unit until it departs therefrom, and without 30 undesirably disturbing the bees while at work. obstructing the observers view. Since Windows are of various sizes and styles, any A further object of my invention is to provide mode of attaching an observation cage to a winan impro-ved structure for supporting the brood dow should be adapted for application to any frame sections of a bee observation unit While Window so as to permit universal use of the cage. permitting independent removal thereof. 35

A practical observation unit should also be pro- Still another object of my invention is to provided with suitable means for completely connvide an improved method of eifecting bee observaing the bees when desired, and for freeing them tion, and of causing the bees to enter an observa- When the observations have been completed, and tion unit located within a building or the like 40 should moreover be provided with means for adewithout injuring the bees or permitting escape 40 quately protecting the bees While in the unit. thereof. It is therefore a more specific object of my A further object of the invention is to provide present invention to provide a new and useful an improved process of admitting bees to an observation unit which in fact embodies all of the observation unit, whereby the cage while assemabove mentioned desirable features, and which bled may be filled with bees to capacity with 45 l may be manufactured and sold at moderate cost. minimum danger to the operator. Another Specific object of this invention is t0 These and other specic objects of the inven- Vde an mDIOl/ed ObSGIVaOn unit Which may tion will be apparent from the following detailed pro be readily assembled and adjusted for associatlon (description with any Standard WrldOW, regardless 0f the A clear conception of the several features con- 50 Width of the sill or the height thereof from they stituting the present improvements, and of the floor. morde of constructing and of utilizing observation A further specific object of my invention is to units built in accordance with my present invenprovide anadjustable observation unit for bees or tion, may be had by referring to the drawing the like, which may be readily dismantled and accompanying and forming a part of this speci- 55 `without disturbing the others.

iication wherein the reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the assembled observation unit, showing the same applied to a fragment of a standard window;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through a fragment of the observation unit and through a portion of the Window, the section being taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a transverse horizontal section through the lower portion of the unit, taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and showing one of the sill adapters folded into locking engagement with the unit as when not in use;

Fig. 4 is a part sectional side View of the portion of the observation unit remote from the window, showing the supporting structure therefor;

Fig. 5 is an end View of the supporting easel, showing the same collapsed; and

Fig. 6 is an .end view of the lower portion of the observation unit looking toward the control mechanism for the bee inlet and outlet runway, a portion of the structure being broken away to reveal the shutter and the shutter being shown in dot-and-dash lines in open position.

While the inven-tion has been shown herein as being specically applied to a bee observation unit adapted to be placed within a room, it is not desired to unnecessarily restrict the scope by such specic embodiment.

Referring to the drawing, the improved obser- .vation `unit comprises in general a cage having substantially vertical opposite transparent sides 1; a removable top or head board 8; top rails 9 at theopposite-sides of the board 8; vertical end pieces I, II; and a base I2. This observation cage normally contains several honey comb sections I5, and va plurality of brood frames I3, I4 which are disposed beneath the sections I5 and which may be inserted within or removed from the observation cage independently of each other when one oi the glass sides 'I is removed. The upper brood frame I3 is provided with opposite end lugs I6 which are cooperable with grooves IB in the end walls IU, I I to suspend the frame I3, and the lower brood frame id is `likewise provided with opposite end lugs Il which are cooperable with other grooves i9 in the end walls It, Ii to likewise suspend the frame Iii, and with this assemblage either of the brood frames I3, I4 may be readily removed or inserted within the cage One or both of the top rails 9 may be provided with an adjustable window shade 20 for regulating the exposure of the cage to the light, and an additional glass plate 2l may be added to either one or both sides of the cage so as to provide insulating air spaces for the transparent areas of the cage.

The base I2 is provided with improved sill adapters 22, 23 which are secured to this bas-e by means of hinges 24, 25. These sill adapters 22, 23 are telescopic and may be lengthened or'shortened by means of extensions 26, 2 respectively, and adjustment bolts 28 coacting with the tubular extensions. The bolts 28 are not absolutely necessary, but the sill adapters should preferably be provided with latohing means for retaining the same in collapsed position against the cage as shown in Fig. 3. This latching means comprises a headed lug 29 formed on each extension 26, 27 and cooperable with a resilient socket 30 formed on the adjacent side of the base i2. The base i2 also has a groove or runway 3| formed therein whichserves'as an entrance and exit passage for the bees, and this base as well as the end walls Ill, II is also provided with grooves 32 into which the glass sides "I are iitted so as to complete the enclosure.

While one end of the cage is supported from the Window sill, the opposite end. thereof is preferably provided with an easel or door support as shown in Fig. 1. This iloor support comprises legs 33, 34 which are swingably interconnected andare provided with adjusting bolts 38, and extensible legs 35, 36 formed with elongated slots 37 coacting with the bolts 33. The leg 34 has a bracket 39 swingably connected thereto by a pivot '36, and the bracket 39 is adapted to be swung transversely into a position adjoining the leg 33 and when so positioned may be attached to the leg 33 by means of a bolt d2. Such transverse disposition of the bracket 39 places this bracket in a position for engagement with a groove 4I formed in the lower portion of the base I2, and the adjustable leg sections 35, 33 may obviously be so positioned that the unit will be held in desired position with respect to the floor. The legs 33, 34 `are swingably connected by a hinge 33, and are provided with notches 45 which are adapted to embrace a retaining bolt 44 carried by the in.- ner end wall I of the unit, and when the wing nut which coacts with the bo-lt ill is adjusted to clamp the retaining washer in position, the easel provides a rigid support for the unit. The end wall II beneath which the passage or groove 3| extends, is provided with an adjustable closure or valve 4S having a curved slot il therein which is cooperable with a Xed pivot d8 so as to permit opening and closing of the runway. By adjusting the slide or Valve 46, the bees may be either confined within the unit, or the passage 3! may be opened more or less so as to regulate the entry or escape of the bees.

Ordinarily the observation unit would be assembled by iirst positioning the end walls or pieces I, II upon the base I2, and the top rails 9 may then be properly positioned relative to the walls Ii), II. One of the glass sides 'I may thereafter be slid into proper position along the grooves 32, and either one or both of the brood frames I3, I4 may be thereafter inserted through the other open side of the cage. After proper assembly of the-brood frames has been effected, the remaining glass side may be slid into position Whereupon the unit is ready for the reception of the bees. The be-es may be-inserted within the unit together with the brood frames I3, I4, but this practice has proven rather dangerous to persons assembling the unit as well as injurious to the bees. In accordance with `my improved method, I ll the unit with bees by admitting them through the opening at the top of the unit between the side rails 9 after the empty brood frames I3, I4 have been inserted and before the top .plate 8 is applied to the cage. I insert the bees into a funnel having its discharge opening in open communication with the open top of the observation unit, and by placing a cloth or screen containing carbolic acid solution above the top of the funnel. The obnoxious nature of the carbolic acid gases then causes the bees to travel downwardly into the unit and the admission of the bees may be augmented by gently shaking the funnel and the unit. When the desired number of bees have been thus admitted to the unit, the honey sections l may be positioned therein and the removable head board 8 may be applied and lfastened in place.

If the unit is positioned Within an-undesirably hotor cold building, the extra glass plates 2| may be provided and these plates produce insulating spaces or air pockets at opposite sides of the cage and thus `protect the bees. If the exposure to strong light is undesirable, the unit mayV also be provided with curtain shades 20 which may be raised or lowered to any desired extent so as to further p-rotect the insects. Application of these shades 20 may also aid the observer in viewing the colony through unshaded portions of the unit, by providing a dark background on the opposite side of the cage. The shades 20 may be mounted directly on `the removable side trails 9, and the auxiliary glass plates 2| may be fitted in slides secured to the end walls I0, Il.

When the observation unit is in normal use, the bees may either be confined within the unit, or freed therefrom, by manipulation of the slide valve 46. This valve 46 may obviously be set in any desired position from within the building and without disturbing the window with which the unit is associated, to either enlarge or diminish the effective area of the bee passage 3l, and the valve is preferably so constructed that it will not entirely close off this passage and will permit at least limited ventilation of the interior of the unit.

From the foregoing specific description it will be noted that the telescopic sill adapters 22, 23 which are fastened to the base l2 by means of the hinges 24, 25, will permit the unit to be readily applied to the sill of an ordinary vertically adjustable window. The adapters 22, 23 are shaped for snug engagement with the window sill as shown in Fig. 2, and the extensions 26, 21 which may be slid within the tubular adapters 26, 21 'are thus adjustable to conform with windows of various widths. For very Wide windows, additional extension bars 22', 23 may be added as shown in Fig. 1, and the bolt 28 is merely pro-vided 'in order to retain the extensions and the bars cooperating therewith in proper position. When the sill adapters are collapsed, they are held in place against the opposite sides of the base l2 by means of the lugs 29 cooperating with the resilient sockets 30, and it is also to be noted that when the unit is associated with a window, normal opening and closing of the window is not interfered with since the lower portion of the window is adapted to snugly coact with the topr of the sill adapter.

It will also be noted that the easel provided at the opposite end of the unit constitutes a readily adjustable support cooperating with the sill 'adapter in order to maintain the unit in substantially horizontal position. This easel which may be conveniently adjusted to various heights by manipulating the wing nuts coacting with the bolts 38 may also be readily removed from the unit and collapsed into `compact form for hand-ling and shipment. The cross bar or bracket 39 when positioned as shown in Fig. 1 provides a rigid brace for the easel and prevents collapse thereof when in use, and this bracket 39 may obviously be swung into alinement with the leg 36 as shown in Fig. 5, when the easel is collapsed. When the easel is properly assembled and the several wing nuts of the clamping bolts are properly tightened, there is no danger of having the unit displaced from its moorings. The improved observation unit has proven highly satisfactory in actual commercial use and can be manufactured and sold at moderate cost. The improved method of admitting bees to the unit may also be practised Without danger of having the bees enter the building and without injuring the bees, since the fumes are not injurious to the insects.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of operation, herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A bee observation unit, comprising, a bee confining cage having an observation opening therethrough, an elongated sill adapter secured to one end of the cage and formed for disposition between a window and its sill, and a support at the opposite end of said cage.

2. A bee observation unit, comprising, a bee confining cage having an observation opening therethrough, a longitudinally adjustable elongated sill adapter secured to one end of the cage and formed for disposition between a window and its sill, and a vertically adjustable iioor sup-port at theopposite end of said cage.

3. A bee observation unit, comprising, a bee confining cage having an observation opening therethrough, a pair of longitudinally adjustable elongated sill adapters secured to one end of the cage and formed for disposition between a window and its sill, said sill adapters being foldable along and attachable to the sides of said cage, and a vertically adjustable floor support at the opposite end of said cage, said floor support being detachable from said cage.

4. A bee observation unit, comprising, a bee confining cage having opposite transparentsides, a plurality of superimposed brood framesdisposed between said transparent sides, and means associated with said cage for supporting said brood frames and for allowing removal of each of said frames from the cage independently of the other.

5. A bee observation unit, comprising, a bee confining cage having an observation opening therethrough, a sill adapter secured to one end of the cage and formed for disposition on a window sill, and a bee exit communicating through the window opening with the outer atmosphere.

6. A bee observation unit, comprising, a bee confining cage having an observation opening therethrough, a support at one end of said cage, a sill adapter secured to the opposite end of the cage and being formed for disposition between a window and its sill, and a bee runway communieating directly with the outside past the sill adapter.

'7. A bee observation unit, comprising, a bee confining cage having opposite transparent sides, means associated with said cage for detachably mounting the same from the win-dow structure of a building, means forming a passage communieating with the youter atmosphere, and means for opening and closing said passage from within the building.

8. A bee observation unit', comprising, a bee conning cage having an observation opening therethrough, a sill adapter secured to one end of the cage and formed for disposition on a window sill, a bee exit communicating through the window with the outer atmosphere, and a valve for controlling the effective area of said exit.

9. A bee observation unit, comprising, a bee conning cage having an observation opening therethrough, a support at one end of said cage, a sill adapter secured to the Vopposite end of the cage and formed for disposition between a window and its sill, a runway communicating direct- 1y with the outside past the sill adapter, and a slide operable from within the room for opening and closing said runway.

10. A bee housing unit, comprising, a bee confining' cage, an adjustable Window sill adapter secured to one end of said cage, and an adjustable iioor support at the opposite end of said cage.

1l. A bee housing unit, comprising, a bee conning cage, an adjustable Window sill adapter secured to one end of said cage, and a passageway communicating directly with the other atniospnele past the sill adapter.

12. A bee housing unit, comprising, a bee conining cage, a window sill adapter secured t'o one end of said cage, a passageway communicating with the outside past the sill adapter, and a floor support at the opposite end of the cage.,

13. A bee housing unit, comprising, a bee conning cage, a window sill adapter secured to one end of said cage, a passageway communicating with the outside past the sill adapter, and means for controlling the area of said passageway from within the building.

14. A bee housing unit, comprising, a bee conning cage, a window sill adapter secured to one ond of said cage, a passageway communicating with the outside past the sill adapter, means for controlling the area of said passageway from within the building, and a vertically adjustable floor support at the opposite end of said cage.

DONALD E. OBEIRNE.

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